Home Gaming Microsoft thinks Scorpio will bring an end to their console generations

Microsoft thinks Scorpio will bring an end to their console generations

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Microsoft believe console generations are over

Console generations and their place in the industry are on borrowed time. The emergence of the likes of the Xbox Scorpio and Sony’s own PlayStation NEO clearly indicate that the two biggest players in this space are realising that a single piece of hardware lasting for 6-8 years just isn’t feasible anymore. But does that mean the idea of upgrading wholeheartedly from one piece of tech to another is over too? Microsoft believes so.

Speaking to Engadget at Gamescom, Microsoft’s Aaron Greenberg expressed agreement with the notion that Scorpio would be breaking the console generation cycle for Microsoft, marking a new dawn in the way console hardware is built, marketed and sold. Because the Scorpio isn’t aiming to leave the Xbox One user-base behind, Greenberg stresses that this isn’t a new generation. He believes that the age of having to leave everything else behind when you do upgrade is essentially behind all gamers.

For us, we think the future is without console generations; we think that the ability to build a library, a community, to be able to iterate with the hardware — we’re making a pretty big bet on that with Project Scorpio. We’re basically saying, “This isn’t a new generation; everything you have continues forward and it works.” We think of this as a family of devices.

That said, Greenberg did note that nothing is set in stone regarding the future. Microsoft is playing all their chips with the Scorpio and hoping that it pans out. They will, however, be looking at customer feedback extremely closely to adjust how the move forward from there. The positive response to Scorpio already gives Microsoft and Greenberg a lot of hope already.

We’re going to learn from this, we’re going to see how that goes. So far I’d say, based on the reaction, there appears to be a lot of demand and interest around Project Scorpio, and we think it’s going to be a pretty big success.

It’s an understatement to say that the existence (and proximity) or both Scorpio and NEO makes the console space far more exciting and unpredictable that it has been in a while, and it’s really up to both Sony and Microsoft to steer this future forward in the best way they can. While the Scorpio will only launch at the end of 2017, Sony is set to reveal their NEO just next month – with a rumoured release date before the end of the year.

Last Updated: August 18, 2016

29 Comments

  1. I was in the market to buy a console for some games coming out soon…. Then I saw the price tags of the games on console and just steered right on by. I guess console games have to be superior to PC if they cost 20% more.

    Reply

    • Ottokie

      August 18, 2016 at 08:46

      If you are used to PC games, the PS4 feels very limited in games. But sales pop up a lot, with brilliant games for dirt cheap.

      Reply

      • HairyEwok

        August 18, 2016 at 08:54

        Honestly the only reason I want to get my hands on a console is for a few games due to them not being available on PC…. Days Gone, Final Fantasy XV, GT: Sport and Horizon…

        Reply

        • Ottokie

          August 18, 2016 at 08:56

          Bought mine just for FF15 and some other JRPG’s if I get them for a good price. Need to finish up Digimon and W3 still xD

          Reply

      • Captain JJ off track

        August 18, 2016 at 09:01

        True. Sure, I would love to have Forza and a few other games that are on console, but compared to the great games you miss on pc due to having a console just outweighs it for me.

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          August 18, 2016 at 09:05

          Pony pony pony!

          Reply

          • Captain JJ off track

            August 18, 2016 at 09:06

            Woo!
            That song XD

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            August 18, 2016 at 09:11

            It really is a wtf game. I’ve gotten to the point where I’ve deleted the 1st core file.

          • Captain JJ off track

            August 18, 2016 at 09:12

            Hehe. Awesome. You’re in for some more interesting stuff to come. It is a damn strange game though.

        • HairyEwok

          August 18, 2016 at 09:06

          You can have Forza on PC though XD.

          Reply

          • Captain JJ off track

            August 18, 2016 at 09:07

            If it’s through the Windows Store then they can keep it. The game isn’t THAT good

          • Fox1 - Retro

            August 18, 2016 at 09:23

            “The best racing game for this and the last generation”

          • Dungeon of JJ

            August 18, 2016 at 09:30

            Sadly, I’ve been without it for so many years that I’ll be okay without it.

          • Matthew Holliday

            August 18, 2016 at 09:57

            Forza Horizon is the only game that got close to convincing me to buy the xbone…
            I wants it.

          • Matthew Holliday

            August 18, 2016 at 09:56

            Wont be long till you can buy an xbox game in store and just straight up install.

    • Fox1 - Retro

      August 18, 2016 at 09:28

      I’ve found console games to be cheaper or about the same price as the PC versions. If you are buying on launch date then the games will be more expensive because most of those sales come from trade-ins but few months down the line the prices drop quickly.

      Reply

    • Allykhat

      August 18, 2016 at 09:41

      The second hand market here in SA thrives pretty well to be honest. If you are willing to wait a little while you can pick up a really good game for 50% off the retail cost. 80% of my game purchases on my consoles are second hand games too and have been doing it for 5 years now without a single issue. I’ve recently started account sharing on PS4 with my brother so we split the cost of the games which makes it even cheaper. Only issue there is then you HAVE to buy digital and second hand goes out the window. Flip side of that coin is the crazy amount of sales PSN has. Example. I picked up Fallout 4 and Just Cause 3 XL edition as a bundle for R850 off the store recently. Fallout on steam still goes for 899. THEN I split the cost with my bro and ended up paying R425 each, which then worked out to R212 per game, per person for Fallout AND JC3 XL. Thats a crap load cheaper than buying on Steam for PC, even when on sale and a quarter of what you would pay for those at retail.

      Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      August 18, 2016 at 09:53

      PC games arent exactly cheap anymore either.
      R700 for BF1.
      R800 for overwatch.

      Times are tough.

      Reply

      • HairyEwok

        August 18, 2016 at 09:57

        I would pay R700 for BF1 on PC against R1000 for the console version.
        Same goes for Overwatch which is R1100 of PS4. That R300 is food for a week for me XD

        Reply

        • Matthew Holliday

          August 18, 2016 at 09:59

          Truth.

          Reply

    • chimera_85

      August 18, 2016 at 11:20

      Cos they loose money on each console made so they make up for it on the games.

      Reply

  2. Alien Emperor Trevor

    August 18, 2016 at 08:47

    It is feasible, but for them it’s not desirable. It’s got nothing to do with making things better for consumers, no matter how much they protest that’s why it’s being done, and everything to do with getting into a mobile-style hardware cycle for their own benefit. Get your heads out your arses, console hardware isn’t exciting – the games are supposed to be.

    Reply

    • Fox1 - Retro

      August 18, 2016 at 09:25

      Console hardware is affordable. PC gamer’s always look down on consoles but the seamless integrated experience outstrips having to upgrade your GPU every 2 years just for more RAM.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

        August 18, 2016 at 09:53

        Leave the master race alone, they look down on consoles and nothing will ever change that

        Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        August 18, 2016 at 10:18

        The point wasn’t the hardware, the point was the faster upgrade cycle that console gamers now have to deal with. Is that really beneficial?

        Reply

        • Fox1 - Retro

          August 18, 2016 at 10:34

          Scorpio and Neo still fall within the realms of the parent consoles.

          Reply

      • Snotweasel

        August 18, 2016 at 14:35

        Peasant!

        Reply

  3. Guava_Eater

    August 18, 2016 at 11:45

    If they intend to start shoving new hardware down our throats every 18-24 months then the Xbone will be the last console I buy. If I wanted to continually play catch up I would have never left the Master Race to become a dual- citizen…. Master Peasant!

    Reply

  4. Snotweasel

    August 18, 2016 at 14:34

    Read it a couple times. Still dont know wtf Scorpio or NEO is

    Reply

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